FOSSANO

fossano, a town and episcopal see of piedmont, italy, in the province of cuneo, 15 m. n.e. of it by rail, 1180 ft. above sea-level. pop. (1901) 7696 (town), 18,175 (commune). it has an imposing castle with four towers, begun by filippo d'acaia in 1314. the cathedral was reconstructed at the end of the 18th century. the place began to acquire some importance in the 13th century. it appears as a commune in 1237, but in 1251 had to yield to asti. it finally surrendered in 1314 to filippo d'acaia, whose successor handed it over to the house of savoy. it lies on the main line from turin to cuneo, and has a branch line to mondovi.